The Tuuka Rask situation...

[Special K]

I completely respect the idea of any player opting out of the season before it starts, but this guy basically quits on his team in the middle of the playoffs. I just can't see how his teammates or Bruins fans will ever forgive this guy for this.

 

If you listen to the interview Rask gave after the last game, he basically said he wasn't taking it seriously and it wasn't really a playoff atmosphere and he didn't really care. A sentiment his teammates promptly shot down.

 

I'm sure the team asked him to leave after his comments but allowed him to try to save face by letting him "opt out to be with his family". What do you guys think, and how would you react if a Bills player did this?

[WotAGuy]

If someone is done, they’re done. Isn’t Vontae Davis the perfect comparison already?  If you’re not 100%, you’ll get killed on the field/ice. 

[4merper4mer]

9 minutes ago, Special K said:

I completely respect the idea of any player opting out of the season before it starts, but this guy basically quits on his team in the middle of the playoffs. I just can't see how his teammates or Bruins fans will ever forgive this guy for this.

 

If you listen to the interview Rask gave after the last game, he basically said he wasn't taking it seriously and it wasn't really a playoff atmosphere and he didn't really care. A sentiment his teammates promptly shot down.

 

I'm sure the team asked him to leave after his comments but allowed him to try to save face by letting him "opt out to be with his family". What do you guys think, and how would you react if a Bills player did this?

To be fair Rask might be a great guy because basically since the 80s the Bruins rosters have been loaded with douche bags.  Maybe he's had enough.

 

I guess I'd roll the dice and trade for him as long as we only gave up one of the billion bad decisions Bots or Murray made.  Montour?

[ProcessAccepted]

if he feels the risk to him and his family isn't worth it then who am I to judge him. I don't know his situation. 

 

The Vontae Davis thing is similar. Personally i wouldn't do what he did but hey I really don't want someone coming out to play who's only doing it halfheartedly out of obligation. 

[LabattBlue]

As a fan I can respect his decision.  I can also see some of his teammates not welcoming him back with open arms next training camp. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

I thought this was a 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' episode title.

[Buddo]

The team statement alludes both to private information they have about the situation, and also that it didn't come as a great surprise because of it.

 

Sounds like there were other things more important on his mind.

 

People need to be aware that there is a distinct possibility these types of situations can, and probably will, arise, through the course of a season.

 

I wouldn't blame a player for suddenly opting out, even in mid season, if a close family member gets a serious diagnosis of illness, that means they become at greater risk from the vagaries of the covid 19 situation.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Word around the campfire here in New England is that Rask got absolutely hammered the night before his “undisclosed illness” that kept him out of the lineup against the Sens.  Apparently, he was too hung over to even go through warm ups.  Rumor is he has had a bad drinking problem for a long time, and also lots of marital problems that have impacted his play.

[mushypeaches]

There's no way he's not done with that team, and possibly the NHL

[BarleyNY]

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29666909/boston-bruins-goalie-tuukka-rask-opts-ahead-game-3
 

There’s some info for those of us who need it.  Nothing to forgive.  The man is going home to take care of his family, including his newborn.  Seems like the team was not exactly blindsided by it either so obviously there had been some discussion.  Also I can’t believe people are giving him crap for saying that it didn’t seem like a regular playoff atmosphere this year with no fans at the games.  Well, duh.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

8 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

Word around the campfire here in New England is that Rask got absolutely hammered the night before...

I read that and thought he took a hard check in the previous game.  Good thing I read your entire post!  ?

[KD in CA]

Boston fans are well known for their patience and having measured responses to athletes who disappoint them, so I expect he'll be warmly received both in the community and on the ice next season.

[Mr. WEO]

16 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29666909/boston-bruins-goalie-tuukka-rask-opts-ahead-game-3
 

There’s some info for those of us who need it.  Nothing to forgive.  The man is going home to take care of his family, including his newborn.  Seems like the team was not exactly blindsided by it either so obviously there had been some discussion.  Also I can’t believe people are giving him crap for saying that it didn’t seem like a regular playoff atmosphere this year with no fans at the games.  Well, duh.

 

 

Wasn't that the first reason he gave for opting out?

[Sherlock Holmes]

What a shame... trade him to Buffalo where he really wants to play and not quit

[Doc]

It's his decision.  At least he didn't do it during the 1st or 2nd intermission.

[BillsfaninChicago]

I’m a hypocrite because I say I would forgive him and yet I don’t forgive Saint Doug...

[WotAGuy]

49 minutes ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

What a shame... trade him to Buffalo where he really wants to play and not quit

That won’t help his drinking problem. He might have to up his drink game if he moved here.  

Edited August 15, 2020 by WotAGuy

[Doc]

52 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

That won’t help his drinking problem. He might have to up his drink game if he moved here.  

 

Yup.  Just ask Robin Lehner.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I was never mad at Vontae Davis and I wouldn't be mad at any player. But fans are fans and he'll be a joke and hated on. I think there are probably better ways to walk away when people are depending on you, but everyone should respect another person's choice as long as they're not breaking a law.

Edited August 15, 2020 by Buffalo_Stampede

[MJS]

2 hours ago, Leonhart2017 said:

I’m a hypocrite because I say I would forgive him and yet I don’t forgive Saint Doug...

Marrone didn't have a pandemic to deal with 

[Mr. K]

Nothing to see here. Sucks he started to play and stopped but outside of that you can't hate him during this time. Unless its because he plays for the Bruins.

[HOUSE]

Tuukka Rask can do nothing to help the Bills. So I see no need to boo the guy

[Malazan]

I mean, Jamal Adams got 2 1st round picks and a serviceable safety in return despite not wanting to play for his team. If he can cover and occasionally get to the passer, I'd trade him in a heartbeat.

[SinceThe70s]

 

To me it comes down to whether you believe he opted out due to Covid concerns or not. Bruins said they weren't blind-sided and were aware of concerns before the announcement. If I gave an eff about the Bruins that would be good enough for me.

[BillsfaninChicago]

3 hours ago, MJS said:

Marrone didn't have a pandemic to deal with 

Touché

[TheBrownBear]

Can't hate on the guy.  We have no clue what's going on with his personal life.  For all we know, his wife could be unstable with post partum or something.

[JoPoy88]

I have no problem with him opting out - I see problems with his timing of doing it especially when he was on camera complaining Thursday night. Boston fans are ruthless and the narrative is already forming that he’s just soft. The fact that they won with Halak today isn’t helping his cause either.

[Charles Romes]

If COVID has a long term effect of reducing your long capacity 10% that’s not enough to make a difference in the lives of most of us. But if you are an elite pro athlete it could certainly end your career earlier than it should have. 

[bigK14094]

As a long time reader of this Bills blog, I didn't know who this guy was until I read some.......its hockey folks....use the other board.

[Nester]

11 minutes ago, bigK14094 said:

As a long time reader of this Bills blog, I didn't know who this guy was until I read some.......its hockey folks....use the other board.

the poll and thread are about if Bills players did something similar. It fits, cool your breasts.

[Dopey]

14 hours ago, MJS said:

Marrone didn't have a pandemic to deal with 

But he got $4 million in free money just to leave. Not a bad exit gift.

[Georgia Bill]

Imagine if Josh Allen said sorry, i just can't do this, and said he wasn't going to play in the playoffs just before they started, and after the Bills had secured the AFC East and had the best regular season record in the NFL.  Sure you could respect his decision, but that doesn't mean there wouldn't be a huge dust up about it.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I think fans would boo at first then forgive him after they see how much better of a goalie tre’d is. 

[JMF2006]

23 hours ago, Special K said:

I completely respect the idea of any player opting out of the season before it starts, but this guy basically quits on his team in the middle of the playoffs. I just can't see how his teammates or Bruins fans will ever forgive this guy for this.

 

If you listen to the interview Rask gave after the last game, he basically said he wasn't taking it seriously and it wasn't really a playoff atmosphere and he didn't really care. A sentiment his teammates promptly shot down.

 

I'm sure the team asked him to leave after his comments but allowed him to try to save face by letting him "opt out to be with his family". What do you guys think, and how would you react if a Bills player did this?

 

Did you see him duck on the game winner in game 2 ?

 

That guy is so overrated.

 

After that goal the team is probably happy to have Halak in there(even after his huge gaff yesterday)

2 hours ago, bigK14094 said:

As a long time reader of this Bills blog, I didn't know who this guy was until I read some.......its hockey folks....use the other board.

 

But our starting LCB runs a goalie school

 

This is relevant

15 hours ago, HOUSE said:

Tuukka Rask can do nothing to help the Bills. So I see no need to boo the guy

 

The Bills already have a better goalie on the roster

[JMF2006]

BTW when 27 wanted to opt out I just figured its his right to do that.

 

When he opted back in I was really happy though.

[C.Biscuit97]

Unless it’s something major, I would l look to move on from home ASAP.  He quit on the team in the playoffs.  That’s complete BS. I would never have his back as teammate again (again if it is something serious, I completely take it back). 
 

side note, I won my biggest hockey bet ever betting the Bruins would be fired up and win yesterday. ?

Just now, JMF2006 said:

BTW when 27 wanted to opt out I just figured its his right to do that.

 

When he opted back in I was really happy though.

Much different story opting out before the season than in the middle of a playoff series. 

[Special K]

23 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

 

Much different story opting out before the season than in the middle of a playoff series. 

 

Like I said in my original post, I respect a players right to opt out before the season starts, but this guy quit on his team in the middle of the playoffs, and I can't see his teammates forgiving him or welcoming him back with open arms whatever the reason for the opt out.

 

Imagine if the Bills were in the AFC championship game, and all of a sudden Josh Allen, Tre White, or Stephon Diggs up and decided they didn't want to play anymore because it didn't feel like a real "playoff atmosphere"......I can only imagine how this board would explode if that happened.

[BarleyNY]

22 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

Wasn't that the first reason he gave for opting out?

According to the article he made that comment in response to a question by a reporter the day before.  Seemed like he was just being honest.  I definitely can see how it could’ve had an additional impact on his decision though.  Seems like he felt that he should have been home with his family and newborn, but that he was shirking that responsibility for playing in front of no one except cameras.

[Mr. WEO]

26 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

According to the article he made that comment in response to a question by a reporter the day before.  Seemed like he was just being honest.  I definitely can see how it could’ve had an additional impact on his decision though.  Seems like he felt that he should have been home with his family and newborn, but that he was shirking that responsibility for playing in front of no one except cameras.

 

If the lack of adoring fans present in the arena played a part in his decision then he's a tool.  He knew the situation he would be playing in.  He knew the head count in his home.  He should have opted out before the restart.  Getting into it and then, looking at the empty stands and claiming he's suddenly worried about his kids seems pretty lame.

 

  

[BarleyNY]

2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

If the lack of adoring fans present in the arena played a part in his decision then he's a tool.  He knew the situation he would be playing in.  He knew the head count in his home.  He should have opted out before the restart.  Getting into it and then, looking at the empty stands and claiming he's suddenly worried about his kids seems pretty lame.

 

  

Or maybe he was torn between his obligations to his teammates/job and his responsibility to his family.  That seems a whole lot more likely than anything else, especially since his family is the reason he gave and the empty stadiums angle is just speculation.